Teen pleads not guilty to charges linked to school lockdown

Thursday

May 8, 2014 at 9:31 AMMay 8, 2014 at 9:31 AM

By Jim.Hayden@hollandsentinel.com(616) 546-4274

A teen whose chase led to the lockdown of a Zeeland middle school was arraigned Tuesday morning on two counts linked to the incident last month.Andre Shyheim Garza-Jackson, 19, of Zeeland, pleaded not guilty to the charges of attempted assault/resisting/obstructing a police officer and disturbing the peace. He also pleaded not guilty to a probation violation.Garza-Jackson is free on bond.Holland District Court Judge Bradley Knoll appointed Randall Collins to represent Garza-Jackson.The obstructing a police officer charge carries a maximum of one year in jail or $500 fine. Disturbing the peace is punishable by up to 90 days in jail or a $500 fine.Just before 1 p.m. April 29, a witness reported that the teen threatened them and had a knife near Zeeland City Hall, 21 S. Elm St. No one was stabbed or injured in the incident, according to the Zeeland Police Department.Police searched for the suspect and apprehended him near a self-service laundry on Washington Avenue.No knife was recovered, police said.The Ottawa County Sheriff’s Office participated in the search as well.During the search, Cityside Middle School, 320 E. Main Ave., was locked down, according to school officials. The school is a few blocks east of city hall and the laundry business.Cityside has 720 students in grades six through eight.Garza-Jackson pleaded guilty in September 2013 to domestic violence and assault and battery and was sentenced to 25 days in the Ottawa County Jail and 18 months probation. He also pleaded guilty in July 2013 to disturbing the peace and was sentenced to eight days in jail.— Follow Jim Hayden on Twitter@SentinelJim.